The first Campus Sustainability Week at Santa Monica College will be celebrated Monday through Thursday, Oct. 24 through 27 in an effort to raise awareness of environmental problems and solutions.

The week of events, which include speakers, film screenings and a campuswide potluck, comes as SMC is gaining momentum as a model in sustainability, SMC officials say.

“Campus Sustainability Week is part of a national effort to mobilize educational institutions to raise awareness about environmental problems and solutions,” said SMC Director of Sustainability Genevieve Bertone.

“Educational institutions have a unique role in preparing tomorrow’s leaders to help address the worsening environmental crisis. The students of SMC led the way by encouraging college President Dr. Chui L. Tsang to sign the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment in 2008.”

The schedule of free campus sustainability events on the SMC main campus, 1900 Pico Blvd. includes the following:

  • Monday, Oct. 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: campuswide potluck in Celebration of National Food Day;
  • Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: SMC Organic Learning Garden grand opening;
  • Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 4 to 6 p.m.: Movie screening of “Urban Roots,” a documentary telling the story of the spontaneous emergence of urban farming in the city of Detroit;
  • Thursday, Oct. 27 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Keynote speaker Andy Revkin presents: “9 Billion People + One Planet = ?.”
  • Thursday, Oct. 27 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.: SMC Climate Action Plan Launch Roundtable with Andrew Revkin, focusing on what SMC is doing to reduce its carbon footprint.

    Campus Sustainability Week is sponsored by the SMC Center for Environmental Studies, SMC Associated Students, SMC Global Citizenship Food Justice Project, and SMC Club Grow.

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